UX Specialist

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJMs Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a UX Specialist to lead the design and development of intuitive, high-performing digital experiences across IJM.org and related platforms.

The UX Specialist is a senior individual contributor and thought partner who leads UX strategy, research, and design while collaborating closely with Web Development, Creative, Content, SEO, Analytics, and IT partners. The ideal candidate is a seasoned UX practitioner with experience designing for complex websites, diverse audiences, and mission-driven organizations.

This position is remote with occasional travel to our headquarters in the Washington, DC area. It reports to the Director, Digital and is only available to candidates with the right to work in the U.S.

This position is hybrid (onsite Tuesdays & Thursdays) if located in the Washington, DC area or remote for non-local candidates. It reports to the Global Director, Digital and is only available for candidates with the right to work in the US.

Responsibilities

UX Strategy & Leadership

Lead UX strategy and execution for IJM.org and other priority constituent-facing and internal-facing digital experiences.

Define and evolve UX principles, standards, and best practices across IJMs digital ecosystem.

Serve as the primary UX thought partner for Creative, Web Development, Content, SEO, Analytics, and IT stakeholders.

Advocate for user-centered, accessible, and inclusive design practices across all digital initiatives.

Research, Discovery & Design

Plan and conduct UX research, including usability testing, tree testing, journey mapping, surveys, and qualitative analysis.

Translate research findings and data into clear UX insights, recommendations, and design solutions.

Develop wireframes, user flows, information architecture, and experience designs for new and existing initiatives.

Apply accessibility and usability best practices, including compliance with WCAG and Section 508 standards.

Collaboration & Experience Optimization

Partner with SEO and analytics stakeholders to ensure UX decisions support discoverability, engagement, and conversion goals.

Collaborate with content strategists and writers to ensure content structure and information architecture meet user needs.

Support ongoing experience optimization efforts by applying research insights and performance data.

Provide UX guidance for campaign landing pages and high-impact digital moments.

Platforms, Systems & Governance

Partner with CMS and platform owners to ensure UX best practices are reflected in templates, components, and content structures.

Provide UX input and guidance for constituent-facing platforms such as fundraising, events, surveys, and video hosting tools.

Contribute to digital content governance by advising on UX-related standards, patterns, and documentation.

Enablement, Documentation & Reporting

Educate and enable cross-functional partners on UX principles, patterns, and best practices.

Document UX standards, learnings, and recommendations to support consistency and scale.

Analyze and communicate UX-related insights using research findings and digital analytics.

Education & Experience

Bachelors degree in UX, design, human-centered design, marketing, business, or a related field.

57 years of professional experience in UX, interaction design, or digital experience design.

Demonstrated experience leading UX strategy for complex websites or digital platforms.

Strong portfolio showcasing UX research, wireframing, and experience design work.

Experience collaborating with developers, content strategists, marketers, and analytics partners.

Working knowledge of SEO, analytics, and content strategy as they relate to user experience.

Technical Competencies

Proficiency in wireframing and design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.

Experience conducting research and interview to uncover user needs and validate design decisions.

Experience using analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to inform UX decisions.

Experience with usability and behavior analysis tools such as Hotjar, Crazy Egg, Mouseflow, or similar.

Familiarity with CMS-driven websites; experience with Craft CMS is a plus.

Basic understanding of HTML and CSS.

Critical Qualities

Eager commitment to IJM’s Core Values: Christian, Professional and Bridge-Building.

Highly curious and intellectual rigor. Naturally asks why? to seek patterns and deep understanding, challenges assumptions, pursues clarity over convenience.

Influence over authority: able to build trusting relationships across teams and levels within the organization and guide strategy through insight rather than positional power.

Excellent communication skills with an emphasis on distilling complex information into simple, actionable recommendations avoids unnecessary complexity.

Strong time management and organizational skills to manage multiple stakeholders, projects, and priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Application Process

Upload Resume, Cover Letter & Statement of Faith* in one PDF document .

What is a statement of faith? A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.

What does IJM have to offer?

Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision benefits

Monthly commuter and parking benefits in the DC metro area

Retirement benefit options

Paid leave starting at 23 days

12 holidays (plus early release the day prior)

Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation

Robust staff care resources

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.

At IJM, were committed to building a diverse workforce through fair and equitable employment practices. IJM encourages people of any race, color, age, sex, marital status or political ideology to apply for employment. While we welcome everyone into this work, we truly believe that the work we are doing is Gods work, not our own, and practice spiritual disciplines together daily. Thats why we legally require under SEC. 2000e-1 [Section702] of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that all employees practice a mature orthodox Christian faith, as defined by the Apostles Creed.

IJM requires a background check, police clearance and thorough review of references with an employment offer and/or employment contract.